ABOUT US
Voluntary Action South West Surrey is a registered charity and limited company set up in 2008 to help support voluntary and community groups working in the boroughs of Guildford and Waverley.
We are a Council for Voluntary Service and member of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA).
As well as giving advice, information and support to local groups we also run a Volunteer Centre recruiting volunteers for organisations working in South West Surrey, as well as being host of the Guildford and Waverley Social Prescribing Service.
In 2024, we launched our Volunteer Connections project.
OUR MISSION
As an infrastructure organisation we aim to guide, support and strengthen the voluntary and community sector across South West Surrey, building capacity, sustainability and collaboration to improve outcomes for our communities.
OUR VISION
We at Voluntary Action South West Surrey will champion a resilient, inclusive voluntary sector where communities thrive, wellbeing grows, and everyone belongs
OUR VALUES
Our organisation has committed to the following values:
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People and community focused
We care passionately about the people and the communities we serve and will do our very best to satisfy their needs. We strive to nurture and empower our employees to the benefit of individuals, our organisation and our stakeholders.
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Respectful and embracing diversity
We recognise and respect all aspects of diversity in the communities we service, within VASWS and within organisations we work with. We embrace the principle of strength in diversity.
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Collaborative
We are outward looking and will work productively with all relevant organisations and individuals to deliver solutions.
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Innovative and improving
We will learn from our experiences and those of others. Will constantly strive to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations to the benefit of all our stakeholders.
Services we can offer your organisation
Voluntary Action South West Surrey exists to help build the capacity of our local voluntary and community organisations by providing advice, information, training and opportunities to network. We also provide a volunteer recruitment service. Below you can see just some of the many services that we are able to offer.
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Funding Advice
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Funding searches to help identify relevant funding sources for your service/project
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Advice on how to make a good funding application and how to increase your chances of success
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Reviewing funding applications: before you submit a funding application it is always a good idea to get someone independent of your organisation to read your application.
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Governance and Organisational Structure
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Advice on constitutions: is yours right for your organisation
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Trustee/committee members roles and responsibilities
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Organisational structures: when should you register as a charity, a CIO, a social enterprise, incorporate, stay as you are? The pros and cons of different structures available for voluntary organisations.
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Trustee Board development
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Policies, Procedures and Developing Your Organisation
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Advice on appropriate policies and procedures
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Best practice advice and model policies
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Organisational health checks: do you have the right policies and procedures in place and are they working for you. Help in developing and implementing an action plan
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Monitoring and evaluation
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Advice on DBS (formerly CRB) checks: who needs them and who doesn’t
OUR
TEAM
Learn more about the dedicated team that strive to support our local communities across our variety of different projects.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS
